After battling through injuries to begin his Miami Marlins career, Garrett Cooper is beginning to showcase his strong hitting potential.

Fully healthy after separate injured list stints this season, Cooper has been on a tear in June, ranking near the top of multiple leaderboards. Among National League hitters this month, the 28 year old is third in on-base percentage (.469) and sixth in batting average (.381), wRC+ (196) and wOBA (.464).

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In Wednesday’s 9-0 win over the St Louis Cardinals, he came up a double short of the cycle, finishing 3 for 5 with a grand slam, triple and and four RBI.

Acquired from the New York Yankees following the 2017 season, Cooper has settled into the two-hole, providing the Marlins with a strong boost near the top of the lineup. Entering Sunday, the 6-foot-6 infielder tallied first-inning hits in five consecutive games.

For the season, Cooper is slashing .295/.380/.482 (133 wRC+) with six home runs in 129 plate appearances. The former Auburn standout was the Marlins’ Opening Day starter in 2018, but played in just 14 games last season due to a nagging wrist injury.

Cooper is riding a career-best nine-game hitting streak and 15-game on-base streak. In an attempt to slow him down, teams have changed their approach. Cooper said opposing starters have begun pitching him more inside. With the Pittsburgh Pirates shifting toward the pull side Saturday night, Cooper adjusted, hitting three opposite-field singles.

“They’re trying to shift me to the pull side on the infield, so I’m going to do everything I can to go the other way,” Cooper said. “As a big guy, you try to get your hands extended. If they’re going to keep pitching me that way, I’m going to keep shooting balls that way.”

Injured players progressing

Battered with injuries the past six weeks, Miami is close to returning a number of key players.

Walker, Berti and O’Brien will likely make rehab starts for the High-A Hammerheads, who are home Monday-Wednesday before heading to Fort Myers for a four-game series. Wallach needs to clear concussion protocol first before being cleared to play.

Marlins reliever Riley Ferrell is also moving closer toward a spot in the bullpen. A Rule 5 draft pick from the Houston Astros, the right-hander was slated for the Opening Day roster, but suffered biceps tendinitis toward the end of spring training.

In a rehab appearance for Triple-A New Orleans, Ferrell pitched 1 2/3 perfect innings Saturday night. No timetable has been set on when Ferrell could make his major league debut, but his performance was an encouraging sign for the team.

As a Rule 5 pick, Ferrell needs to spend 90 days on the MLB active roster before the Marlins can use options on him. The 90 days can be split over multiple seasons, but until he hits that milestone, he must be carried on the 40-man roster during the offseason and then on the 25-man active roster once the regular season begins.

Marlins reliever Julian Fernandez, who also carries Rule 5 requirements, is still on the injured list after recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 23-year-old right-hander was in the midst of his throwing program before being shut down on June 7 with elbow discomfort.